By SETH J. FRANTZMAN SEPTEMBER 3 , 2026

US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that Syria acting as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz would be “great.” This comment was prompted by The Washington Post’s headline, which noted that Syria was “eyeing role as [a] Middle East hub, offers options to bypass Hormuz.”

Trump’s comment comes amid rising tensions between the US and Iran. The US carried out airstrikes in Iran, and Iran responded by attacking Jordan, the Kurdistan region of Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, and other countries.

The White House has signaled that it has no interest in making a deal with Iran; it also doesn’t trust Iran. Despite this, some reports have claimed that the US prefers to keep the conflict contained and has no desire to see it escalate. This means that, should the US seek to appease Iran, it will have to tread carefully.